Bag seal



Nov. 22, 1955 c. A. BAUER 2, 3

BAG SEAL.

Filed Feb. 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0mm E5 /7. 5/7 UER,

TOP/V576.

C. A. BAUER Nov. 22, 1955 BAG SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1952 INVENTOR. CHnRLEs Hjnuse;

H OPN'EYJ.

BAG SEAL Charles A. Bauer, Woodbridge, Conn. Application February 27, 1952, Serial Nat-13,150

3 14 Claims. (31. z29-- 2.s

.This invention rel ates to bags of impervious, pliable United States Patent i material provided with a sealing means embodying a valve. fit is an object of this invention to provide abag closure which permits gases within thebag to escape but which prevents entrance of atmospheric air into the bag. Itis' another object to provide a bag-valve of simple and economical.construction,which will be efficient in operatien. It is a further object to providea bag closure whichpei'mits a vacuum to be drawn in the bag after the closureis inplace. Further objects will become apparentasthedescription is understood.

In carrying out my invention in its preferred form, the open ends of the bag-Wallsare brought together and aresealed asby folding overt This sealed bag-top is then clamped between the sidewalls of a channel-like clamp-strip of sheetmet'al or equivalent material, which is lined interiorly with a or liner of compressible elasticmaterial. One side wall of'the clamp-strip has a notch, or is otherwise relieved, and :the other side wall has an inwardly ofiset boss aligned with that notch. Also in alignment with the notch is a small bag-opening provided in thebag side-wall which lies adjacent the notchedside of the clamp-strip. The boss stretches that portion of the liner which overlies the bag hole and which spans the notch, so asto cause the liner to seat itself tightly against the hole and form an outwardly opening check valve.

, 2,724,543 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 ce I interior of the bag. To close and seal the bag, the bag end-walls are pulled outward to bring together the top edgesof the bag side-walls 22, 26. These side-Wallsare then folded over in such a way as to avoid occlusion of the opening 24 and the fold is inserted into the clampstrip in such a position that the opening 24 will be covered by that portion 28 of the liner 20 which bridges the notch 16. The strip 10 is then subjected to a collapsing pressure sufiicient to clamp the bag-edges firmly between the lined walls of the clamp-strip. As the clamp,- strip is pressed into the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 3, the boss 18 causes the portion 28 of the liner 20 which spans the notch 16 to be stretched and thus to be held tightly against the adjacent bag-wall, thereby covering and effectively closing the opening 24. For most effective liner-seating, it is desirable to stretch the liner with components of internal stress in more than a single direction. For this and other reasonsgthe boss 18 is desirably dome-shaped.

Should pressure be generated Within the bagin use-as by some gas-generating chemical change in its contentsor if it is desired to withdraw air from within the bag after closing-as in a vacuum-pack presentation-the valve permits escape of fluid from the bag interior by the valve-action shown in Fig. 4. The relatively higher pressure within the bag will force outwardly thatportion of the bag-wall 22 which underlies the notch 16; because at such notch, the bag-wall 22 and the liner-portion 28 are unsupported against outward displacement. Thus, the gas will find its way to the opening 24, will displace the portion 28 of the liner 20 which overlies that opening, and thence escape downwardly between that liner and the exterior surface of the bag-wall. Such escape route is shown by the directional arrows in Fig. 4. Air or other gas under pressure from the outside cannot enter the bag, as the higher exterior pressure would Figxl is an isometric view of the bag with the sealing means and valve inplacerFig. 2 shows the clamp-strip inopened position for reception of the bag walls; Fig. 3 is anenlarged cross-section of the closure, with the valve largedisometric detail of the closure, with the valve meansin pressure-releasing position, directional arrows indicating the escape route of the gas; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 4, ShOWiIIg mOdlfiCEIfiODS of myinvention; Fig.,8 is an isometric view of the bag with a modified .closure in place; and Fig. 9 is an isometric, horizontal section through the closure of Fig. 8.

As shown in .Figs l through 4, the clamp-strip 10 is aE lJ-shapedstrip of sheet-metal havingopposedwalls 12 and 14. Intermediate its length, one of such walls, shown as the wall 12, is provided with a relieved portion such as a notch 16. In alignment therewith, the other wall 14 is provided withan inwardly olfset portion 18, such as theboss shown. Theclamp-strip 10 is lined with a filmor membrane 20 of compressible elastic material, conveniently of thin rubber or some synthetic elastorner. By means yet to be described, the liner-portion 28 which spans the notch 16 is operative as the check-means of the valve.

merely seat the liner-portion 28 more firmly over the bagopening 24. i

In Fig. 5 is shown an embodiment in which the folding over of the bag side-walls is omitted. For many applications, the seal obtained by the grip of the clampstrip satisfactorily seals the bag top without such bag folding. If desired, the topedges of the bag walls may be sealed, asby heat-sealing or gluing, indicated at 530.

If the bag is made withits side-walls of sufficiently resilient material, the above-described liner 20 may he means in normal sealing operation; Fig. 4 1s a further enornitted. Such construction is shown in Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the clamp-strip wall 14 with its boss 18 bear directly on the side-wall 26; and the hole-covering function is effected by folding the bag-walls 22, 26 over the end of the wall 22, whereby the folded-over portion 6280f the side-wall 22 operates as a check means in a manner similar to that of the notch-spanning linerportion 28 of Figs. 3 through 5. i

As an alternative to the notch 16, the relief of the inside surface of the clamp-strip wall 12 may be provided by outwardly striking a pocket or area-way 616 in the clamp-strip wall. section in Fig. 6.

By extending the notch 716, as shown in Fig. 7, up-

Such construction is shown in crosswardlybeyond the limits of the bag side-wall 22, gas

passageway and escapes In Figs. "8 and 9 is shown another embodiment of the invention. To stretch the liner 920, and thus to cause it to press together the unfolded bag-walls 922, 926 into normally-sealed relationship, the clamp-strip 910, after having been collapsed to clamp the opposed hag-wells together, is bent to stretch that parties or the membrane 920 spanning the notch 91-6. The beha 91stli'ns fanned in the wall 914 serves in effect as a projectibn and is thus an equivalent of the projection 18 shown in Figs. '3 to 7. The relief effected by the notch 916 permits gas under bag pressure 'to force outwardly the bag-wall 922 for gas escape axially of the clamp-strip 910 and out the open ends thereof in a similar manner to the gas escape in the embodiment etFi 7 above described. In co'nti'adistinction to the internal forces setup in the liner by the afore-mentioned dome-shaped enset, the valve-closing forces here are substantially all in a direction parallel to the top edges of the bag side-walls.

While I have shown specific embodiments ofthe inven'tion, I intend to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combined closing and venting device for a pliable bag, comprising a channel-like metal clamp-strip having spaced, opposed side walls for reception of bag side's therebetween, one of said walls being provided with a notch extending to an edge of the wall, the other wall having an inwardly offset portion aligned with said notch, and an elastic membrane lining said clamp-strip and having a portion spanning said notch, said strip being col: lapsible to permit the edge portions of an open bag-end to be clamped between its walls, said offset portion being adapted when the strip is collapsed to displace into said notch and stretch the membrane portion spanning said notch and permit it to serve as an outwardly opening check valve.

t 2. A combined closing and venting device for a pliable bag, comprising a collapsible channel-like clamp-strip having opposed side walls for reception of bag sides therebetween, a compressible, elastic lining on the inner walls of said clamp-strip, one wall of said clamp-strip being provided with an inward projection, the other wall of the clamp-strip being relieved opposite said projection whereby when the clamp-strip is collapsed the projection will force outward and stretch that portion of the lining which bridges the relieved portion of the one side wall, the absence tsupport, provided by the relief opposite the projection, permitting further outward displacement of the lining.

h 3. The invention set forth in claim 2 with the addition that the relief in the one side wall is providcd by a notchwhich extends inwardly from the edge of such side wallto a point beyond said projection,

4. In combination with a pliable bag having an open end the edges of which are brought together, bag-closing and sealing means comprising first and second opposed walls between which such edges are clamped, a compressible, elastic lining on the inner, bag-engaging faces of said walls, said first wall having an inward projection and said second wall being relieved opposite said projection, the projection distorting the clamped bag-sides and producing a local stretching of the lining, the bag-side engaged" by the lining on the relieved wall having an openin'g'in' its distorted portion, whereby any fluid pressure generated Within the bag will be transmitted through such opening to" the wall-lining overlying it; the absence of support, provided by the relief: opposite the projection; permitting further outward displacement of the" lining under influence of gas pressure within thebag'.

and sealing means comprising first and second opposed portion, thereby seating saidiolded-over bagwalls between which such edges are clamped, a compressible, elastic lining on the inner, bag iengaging faces er said walls, said first wall having an inward projection and said second wall being notched opposite said projection, the projection distorting the clamped bag-sides and producing a local stretching of the lining, the bag-side engaged by the lining on the notched wall having an opening in its distorted portion, whereby any fluid pressure generated within the bag will be transmitted through such opening to the wall-lining overlying it.

6. in combination with a pliable baghaving an open end the edges of which are brought together, a bag-closing seal clamping such edges to ether, the bag having in one of its walls an o ening located within the extent of said seal, said seal including a flexible, elastic membrane overlying said opening, a projection lying on the opposite side of the clamped bag edges from said opening, and means engaging said membrane at points spaced along the 'seal from saidprojection for maintaining tensie the membrane, saidp'r'ojection Ideally displacing the bag e es and the lne'inbraneoiitwardly to stretch tha ineinhiaheportion overlying said opening. I, I I 7. The invention set forth in claim 2 iii inward projection is tieinc-shaped w p r 8. The invention set forth in claims inwhieh the walls are sealed together at theit top edges aheve saia opening. h w

9. The invention set forth in claim 6 in which thflbjiig walls are foldedover, aha the closing seal is applied abeiit the line of the fold. v I I 10. In combination with a pliable bag ha vin an b fii end the sides of which are br'ou" ht together, one said sides having a 'small e enihgtin venting said tag, at least one bag-side being folded ever, to cover at opening, closure means comprising first and secon posed walls between which the bag sides and the fdlded over bag-side portion are clamped, said first wall having an inward projection in the region of said bag-side open ing, said second wall being relieved opposite said me ee; tion, the projection distorting the clamped bag-side s' and producing a local stretching of the raid d-heat ng the tightly against the bag opening by initial tenslonaltst in said folded-over bag-side portion, the ab's'ejnee of su' port, provided by the relief opposite the projection, pjei initting further outward displacement of the folded-over portion underintlnenceof gas pressure within the bag,

ii. In combination with a pliable bag having an operr end the edges ofwhich are brought together,- limgleldsing and sealing means comprising first and second opposed walls forming a clamping zone in which such edges are clamped, said'first wall having aninward projection said second wall having a relieved portion opposit projection, said projection distorting the elatnped ag s'i into said relieved portion; the bag' pr'o jecting inttj t clamping zone for adistance less than the eittht i sa j relieved portion, the absence of support, pi the relief opposite the prejectien', pennitting nifth H displacement of the bag Wall adjacent the second will under influence of gas pressiire' within the b g, p

12. In combination with a pliable bag iving an end the edges of the sides of which are brdught tdget r,

a bag closing and sealing means comprising first second wall and engagingone of said bag-sides; said second wallbeingrelieved" opposite said bend to t petjniit outward movement er said membrane; said being. stretched longitudinally of saidvifalls at the site'oi; the relief in'thesecondwall to'force the bag sidest'tward the bend in said first wally said walls at'points'spaced' from said reliefclampingthe bagssides and membrane" between them to maintain the membrane in its stretched condition.

13. In combination, a bag having pliable side walls and an opening for the egress of gas, said bag having opposite side walls brought together at said opening, and means including first and second clamp members for clamping said opposite bag-walls together, said first clamp member having an inward projection, said second clamp member being relieved opposite said projection, said projection deforming the bag walls into the relieved portion of said second clamp member at said opening, and an elastic membrane interposed between said second member and the adjacent bag-wall and stretched by said projection to maintain clamping pressure on the bag walls at the relieved portion of the second clamp member and prevent ingress of air into the bag, said membrane in ,the region of such relief being outwardly deformable under the influence of excessive fluid pressure within the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,224,841 Berry Dec. 10, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 339,614 Great Britain Dec. 18, 1930 7,585 Australia July 6, 1933 of 1932 

